What is your opinion?
Little dancing queen
"What really pulled me into this story is how beautifully M writes the contradiction that is Layla. On the outside, Layla seems to have everything. She’s beautiful, incredibly talented, has a family who loves her, wonderful friends in James and Amanda, and Owen, who absolutely adores her. Her gift for dance could even earn her a college scholarship. She smiles, she laughs, she dances—and then night comes, she closes her eyes, and sometimes she wishes she never had to open them again. That hit me hard. M’s writing makes Layla feel so incredibly real. There’s no dramatic neon sign telling us this girl is struggling. Instead, it’s there underneath everything, quietly woven into her thoughts and the little moments between everything else. I especially love that M doesn’t try to hand us an easy explanation for why Layla feels the way she does. She allows her character to be complicated. Layla can be loved and still feel alone. She can have a good life and still hurt. She can smile and actually mean that smile in one moment while carrying something incredibly dark inside her in another. And the writing itself is beautiful. M has a way of making you feel something without forcing the emotion onto you. The characters already feel like people rather than names on a page, and there’s such a naturalness to the way the story unfolds that I keep wanting to read just one more chapter. By Chapter Four, I was genuinely happy simply because Layla was happy. And then I remembered who I was reading and immediately thought, M, please don't destroy me. I have a horrible feeling she probably will. Beautifully written, painfully human, and already the kind of story that stays in your head after you stop reading. I’m completely invested in Layla now, and I cannot wait to see where M takes her. "
Moving story
"As a survivor of multiple medical scares, I can tell you you've got the writing to that going. A sad, but compelling story that needs to be widely read. Thanks."
Dance Ballerina, Dance! 🩰
"On the surface, blonde beautiful Layla appears to have it all in life. She has a loving and supportive family, loyal friends, (James and Amanda) and a remarkable gift for dance that could earn her a college scholarship. She even has a boyfriend in Owen, a fellow dancer who dotes on Layla constantly. So why is it that every night when Layla closes her eyes, she wishes that would never have to open them up ever again? The author who goes by the name, 'M' attempts to answer this question, in this thoughtful portrayal of the girl who has everything and yet her life is empty at the same time. The fact that Layla smiles so often and yet harbors suicidal thoughts are frightening. M is brave enough not to provide any easy answers though I desperately wanted them. The good news is that Layla in Chapter Four at least is in a genuinely happy mood at the moment. Knowing M though, that could change in a heartbeat. A thoughtful novel that invites you to scratch underneath the surface of the word 'happiness'. "
a smile that costs a lot🖤
"This story stayed with me🖤 The first chapter had me falling in love with Layla's life — the warm family, the best friends, the passion for dance. It's beautiful. But then she closes her bedroom door, and she collapses. Silently. That moment is very emotional. You believed the smile. That's the whole point. There's a cancer diagnosis, a relationship under pressure, and a father who quietly taps her arm, and you realise he's known all along. These are moments written with real feeling, and they land⭐️ The heart behind this story is real. If you've ever smiled through a hard day, this one's for you.🖤"
